Future of juvenile service center in question
By Mike Steely
Senior Writer
steelym@knoxfocus.com
The board of directors of the Knox County Juvenile Service Center met Thursday and talked about the confusion over the future leadership of the troubled facility.
Several questions remain to be answered: Who will serve as the interim director given Brian Bivens’ unexpected resignation? Is the facility safe? Will a new sheriff agree to take over management there?
The board, consisting of four Knox County Commissioners headed by Larsen Jay, discussed Bivens’ resignation and, like Knox County Chief Operating Officer Dwight Van de Vate, was surprised by the abrupt and unexpected departure.
Bivens emailed a statement to the board and the media over the preceding weekend that included: “However, of the 94 problems identified in the CTAS report, I could only fix 16. That leaves 76 problems. The Richard Bean Juvenile Service Center is not safe, nor is it secure. In light of the County’s failure to make good on its commitment to these children and to this community, I could not, in good conscience, remain involved.”
Both Jay and Van de Vate disputed the facility being unsafe. Juvenile Judge Tim Irwin agreed, but said there are needs, such as an overnight nurse there every day, additional staffing and additional funding. The board is also looking at adding new cameras in the facility.
“We are in good shape and making progress every day,” Van de Vate told the meeting.
Judge Irwin said there has been “no interruption of service” there, and said he is “mystified” at Bivens’ sudden departure.
Commissioner Andy Fox, who is not a board member, said during the meeting’s public forum that he wants to know what the 16 conditions remedied and what the existing 76 problems Bivens cited are. Fox said he wants to subpoena Bivens to appear before the full Knox County Commission to explain.
Several other Knox County Commissioners who are not detention center board members attended the board meeting. Extension of the board’s oversight there is on the agenda today to permit its oversight until July 1 of next year.
Jay asked what might happen when Sheriff Tom Spangler leaves office and would a new sheriff live up to the promise of taking over administration of the center. Jay passed out a multipage report on the conditions there, possible future plans, and the overall history of the facility. The other board members had questions and opinions on the situation.
The board heard a report from Stephanie Candler of the Human Resource Department and from Captain Corey Dauer, who is being considered to fill the interim superintendent position. Candler described the lack of personnel and payroll records and large payoffs to departing officers from the prior administration.
She said the amount of payoffs to departing employees and future payoffs to current employees is hurting the ability to replace those employees.
Dauer talked about the number of employees needed to keep up with the number of youths detained there.
Jay said the sheriff has stated that he is not ready to assume control, and as a result, the board is requesting an additional six months to administer the facility.
Board members include Commissioners Jay, Shane Jackson, Terry Hill, Rhonda Lee and Damon Rawls.
